Sex beast jailed for ten years
A sex beast has been caged for 10 years after repeatedly raping a young girl.
John Costello, 43, was convicted of the sex attack on a young girl when she was aged between seven and 12.
He also sexually abused her two sisters.
The offences were committed at various addresses in Shotts, Rutherglen and Livingston between 1996 and 2000.
Costello, who has previous convictions for possessing indecent images of children, continues to deny the offences against the sisters.
The court heard that the sick father-of-four Costello showed his young rape victim adult pornographic websites and induced her to take part in sexual conversations with adults on internet chat rooms.
Costello, now living in Southampton, also made her look at pornographic magazines and made her adopt the sexual poses she saw in them and filmed her taking part in sexual activity with him.
He made his other victim play indecent computer games and he persuaded her to put a provocative photograph on her MSN profile.
Judge Lord Clark told Costello: “You have been convicted of sex abuse against three sisters.
“You raped one of the girls and carried out lewd and libidinous practices against the other girls. The offences were committed between 1996 and 2000 when you were aged between 22 and 26.
“In relation to the girl you raped your conduct has had a long-lasting and devastating effect on her.”
Lord Clark said that a lengthy custodial sentence was necessary to ‘deter others from sexually abusing young girls.”
Costello was placed on the sex offenders’ register.
He is already the subject of a life- long supervision order carried out by Hampshire Police as a result of his previous convictions for possessing indecent images.
Defence advocate Geoffrey Forbes told the court that Costello had a problem with attraction to under age girls and added: “He did not consider the viewing of images as an issue.”
Mr Forbes told the court that Costello has undergone sex therapy and added: “He is making a sustained effort to control his urges. In fact he has his own strategy of controlling his urges.”
The advocate added: “He has has a productive law-abiding life and was involved in charity work, in particular for cancer charities.”
The court heard that social workers consider Costello to be a medium risk of re- offending, but a high risk of harm to females under 16.
Conduct had long-lasting and devastating effect